The Republican governor of Texas, Rick Perry, has called the EPA’s decision “another example of heavy-handed and misguided action from Washington DC, that threatens Texas jobs and families and puts at risk the reliable and affordable electricity our state needs to succeed”. He isn’t alone in his opposition. New bits of kit like air scrubbers for power plants will cost &dollar;800 million per year.

But an EPA analysis says the rules will annually prevent 468,000 premature deaths, nonfatal heart attacks and cases of asthma and acute bronchitis – estimates which a spokesperson for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told New Scientist were “based on sound science”. Overall, the health gains should save &dollar;120 to &dollar;280 billion per year by 2014.

The new cross-state air pollution rule could save the US &dollar;120 to &dollar;280 billion per year by 2014